"I haven't mentioned it, haven't I? You're the field captain of strike Team Zero, I expect great things from you."
"Me?"
Soon after we stepped out of the room, Shelly informed me of this news.
Having finished all to do list in today's meeting, we could finally go back home. Though being a captain was something I expected to some extent, being confirmed as one actually made my neck felt heavy.
Parting ways with Shelly in the lobby, I stepped out the bureau and waved to Ilyas, ready to leave. What I didn't expect was Ilyas grabbing onto my sleeve.
"Ethan, do you live near Cafe Sunshine?"
"Yeah, why?"
"My house is in that direction too, how about we walk together?"
Having no reason to refuse, I agreed with his offer. We walked down the street while exchanging small talks. Asking little things like what my favorite food was to something deeper like politics.
I didn't even know how we ended up discussing politics while walking.
"The guide's human right is literally none! We are as important as an esper in term of ability, so why are we treated like a human dumpster?!"
At some point Ilyas started shouting in frustration.
"We have to enter the gate too you know?! What if we got injured? There's no insurance for guide's death or injuries from the government at all!"
I nodded in understanding, insurance was a sensitive spot for people with dangerous jobs. As a construction worker in my previous life, I understood how often workplace accident could occur. Without insurance, it's hard to pay the high hospital bills, especially in a world with higher death rate because of gates.
"Ah, I guess I whine too much, who am I to criticize the government I'm currently working with? I'm just insulting my employer at this point." Ilyas pouted.
I jokingly said, "Who knows… Maybe if you insult them enough, the heaven will grant them a change of heart or something."
"As if. I'd be dead by the time this rotten government have a change of heart." He rolled his eyes in disbelief and we both laughed.
I finally kind of get why the original male leads fall in love with Ilyas in the first place, he was an easy person to talk to.
"Oh, this way is my house."
When we walked into a T intersection, Ilyas pointed to the left. As my house was in the opposite direction, I said my goodbye to him.
"Ethan?"
"Yes?"
Ilyas scratched his cheek and shyly said, "Thank you for protecting me today. I… I really enjoyed talking to you."
I nodded, "Likewise.", then turned around and walked away, "See you tomorrow."
"Yes, see you."
That day, because I was too focused on going back to rest, I didn't realize Ilyas standing for a few more minutes, watching me from a distance.
.
.
A house in my opinion was a private safe zone for me to do whatever I wanted. That's why I always took the cleanliness and tidiness of my house very seriously, including the security system, especially since I lived alone.
Checking everything starting from the kitchen, bathroom and the front door before leaving the house was a habit for me. So when the front door I left locked suddenly opened, I became alerted.
I grabbed my front door and quietly step inside. The light was on and the furniture was still intact with no signs of anything stolen, this was clearly not your usual robbery.
The sound of a person humming could be heard from the living room. When I peeked from the corner of the wall, I could see a man sitting on the sofa, typing something on his phone.
"And send!"
BZZTT!
The phone in my suit inner pocket vibrated, when I checked the sender, it was an unknown number.
[Ethann :3 :3]
[Your big brother is back from The Federation! I'm in your house right now.]
[When r u coming back?? I miss you :3 :3]
Hearing my vibrating phone, the man turned toward my direction and rose up from his seat.
"Oh! You're already home?"
He hastily walked to me with his arms opened wide.
"Ethannn~!"
And suddenly jumped with all his body into my direction.
THUD!
"Ugh!"
I moved sideways to avoid his tackle and he fell down with a crash. Once I know who the intruder was, I rolled my eyes as I took off my shoes.
"Gah Ethan! How mean of you to avoid your big bro like this? Does my cute lil bro not want to play with me again?"
"I'm already 25."
"And I'm only 30! There's no reason for family to avoid each other." He grinned widely at me.
'Right, I forget he holds the key to this villa too.'
Wilson Dale, Ethan's older brother, currently the CEO of a famous pharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs to help stabilize esper's wavelength without the help of a guide. The first stage of the drug had been distributed and was proven to be effective, which made his business skyrocketed and secured his position as one of the most important figure in the economic industry.
'And he's also a brocon.'
I took off my coat and hung it. Wilson followed me around like a puppy with wide smiles.
"Since you become an esper, you seemed more conservative Ethan. You used to go around partying until late at night. Back then, I had to knock open every bar I know just to find you."
"I'm not a kid anymore, I shouldn't just play around wasting money. I'm sorry for troubling you all this time."
I genuinely meant that, the original Ethan might be the one making that mistake in the past but now it's my past and my mistake. I could only apologize to the people I had inconvenience and not repeat it.
"Anyway, what's the real reason you're back this fast?" I asked.
The last time I met this older brother of mine was 5 months ago. At that time, he said he was going to other country to research some ingredients and wouldn't be available for indefinite amount of time. Yet here he was, arriving without being announced.
Wilson rummaged through his pants pocket and took out a glass bottle with white pills inside.
"Try this, it will help you deal with your unstable wavelength." Wilson gently put it on my hand and wrapped his hand on top of mine.
"It has already passed all necessary testing, we've tested it on espers too and the result is great. Take it in case your guide isn't available when you need it."
He raised his head and gazed at me, a tint of sadness in his eyes, "If only you take care of your body more I wouldn't have to worry this much. As an esper, you know exactly how dangerous it is to keep using your ability without a compatible guide. And of all rank, you awaken as an S- Rank. A reckless guy like you..."
Wilson released his grip and picked up his grey coat he threw on the sofa, "I never agreed you became an esper to begin with. In my view, sacrificing my beloved brother's health for some stranger in the name of saving the world wasn't even worth being called selfless, it's just stupidity."
He glanced back at me, "But you seem to enjoy working as an esper too much, I don't even have the heart to forbid you."
"You're leaving?"
Wilson wore his coat and shoes before grabbing the front door's handle, "I still have a lot of work to do, so rest early and don't wait for me."
With one last wave from him, Wilson shut the door with a click.
He's a brocon for a reason, he never stop worrying about his brother.
A smile formed on my face, it's been so long since the last time I was cared for like this. At this point, I already considered him as my own brother.
I drank the pills Wilson gave me and typed him a message.
[Thank you, big bro. Don't forget to rest.]